The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-06-05

once"
"a billiard-room! Of course the very
thing!" CALCULATED my wife. why
dIdn, We, either Of us, think of such q
simple thing befcr e?' I was not quite
SO sure about tbs simplicity of it-as
regarded the cost ut any rate.
When Margaret had got her hat and
! had recovered my breath, we sailed
FOURTH, my wife perpetually wondering
all the way into Oxford Street why we
had not thought of such simple thing
before. Besides" she said, sonIy think
OF the cheapness of furnishing bill
liard-room. why, you absolutely want
nothing except the table and a few
Seats"
a carpet. though, would rather ina
prove the appearance of the roora,
would it not?' Iventured to putt.
Well, yes but carpet is not furni-
1 was silent, but [ did not feel so
thoroughly convinced OF the chespnesS
OF the arrangement. The cost was the
least brilliant part of my idea, could
not help thinking.
Before We went home to tea that
afternoon we had ordered square of
turkey carpet, capital secondhand
full sized billiard-table and a few
leather-covered seats to put around the
room. The arpet was to be made a
fixture thel day; there was no Diff
Guilty abouS It part of the business,
but the table and seats could not be
sent TIL Saturday morning.
1t was running things very closet
suppose AuntGeorgina and the billiard
table were to make their entry into the
house at the same time? We were not
a stones thro " from the Great Western
Hotel, and she was sure to come round
directly she arriyed-she was one Of
those people who must air their
tongues.
But mol On second thoughts such q
horrible rencontre would be unlikely.
Saturday is only half day, and the
men would be sure to want to get their
work over early. 1t was also extremely
improbable that Aunt Georgina would
arrive before the afternoon. Still, in
spite of all this, we both felt little
nervous, and we talkei a good deal
aoout it during dinner, and afterwards
when we retired to my little snuggery
OF smoking room opposite the dining
room.
About o'clock we heard the post
mans knock, and Margaret few to get
the letters. She brought back postal
card from Aunt Georgina, and we nearly
tore it IN two with both trying to read
it at the same time-though there was
not so much to read. Il shall arrive
tomorrow morning at the 6. w. Hotel
and shall look in upon you some time
in the afternoon" was all the informa-
ton it gave US.
l drew long breath of relief
"By JoVel What a blessing!" | said.
by the time she arrives here our spare
room will be full fledged. business
like looking billiard room, and she viii
suspect nothing"
am sure we both slept better that
night than we had all that week.
Directly breakfast was over the next
morning, ne began to expect our men.
had taken whole holiday-or 1 should
say half one, as I always came home
early on Saturdays-in the honor of the
billiard-table and Aunt Georgina. When
10 O'Clock struck, Margaret affirmed il
as her opinion that the men were not
coming at all. 1 tried to disabuse hel
her of this idea. But when IL and L
had struck and still there was no signs
of them, 1 began to be alarmed myself
and Margaret walked up and down be-
tween the back and front drawing
actress rehearsing her scenes.
l had just gone to my study for 8
newspaper, when, halfway down the
stairs, heard shrek from Margaret.
l hurried back at once. She was stand
ing at the window. Come! comet
was all that she could say.
What is it?" 1 cried, rushing to the
window. 1.-The billiard tablet"
L L Is
four-wheeled cab had just drawn up al
our door. from the window of which
was seen protrudiRg the crunpled black
face of pug and a huge nosegay OF
flowers.
perhaps it is some one come to The
wrong house" / said family, catching
at a straw. But the next moment this
straw was swept away from me, as q
stout, fair lady in towering floral bon
net stepped gingerly out of the vehicle
pug in one hand and flowers in the
other. 1t was no optical delusion. II
was Aunt Georgina.
In another minute she would be IN the
drawing room. What were we to dol
Margaret, however, did not lose heI
presence of mind even in this unlocked,
for and awful crisis. I'm all the hVe
wears of our married life ! have never
1
known it deserted her.
Now, Charley" she said emphatic
ally, what we have to do is occupy heI
| and keep her in this room till the bill.
lard table arrives" She looked pale,
but dauntless, and felt my courage
rising by force of example.
Surprising the table doesn't come al
al?'' I could not help suggesting dis
mally.
Its sure to come,n she said, catch
ing her breath; land try not to look as
if anything was the matter"
"WelI, and here 1 am, you see"'
cried high-pitched voice. And Aunt
Georgina sailed into the room, pug dog,
flowers and all, diffusing an overpower-
| ing odor of patchouli around her. Il
thought you wouldn't mind my drop
ping in to lunch" (What lucky thing
this isn't the Palace of Truth,
thought to myself.) 81 really couldn't
wait any longer to see my dear Mag
gle" (Here she rapturously kissed my
wife, ''Besides." she added candidly,
"they had nothing 1 could eat at the
hotel; SO I left Hawbins there with my
luggage and came on to you straight.
i've brought you some flowers out OF
NV garden. Of course 1 know Tendon
florists are perfection, but, after all,
there's nothing like the real article"
I g..